1924 - Dispute leads to division

Hans Christian Hagedorn has a serious conflict in the spring with one of his most trusted employees, chemist Thorvald Pedersen, and fires him. Thorvald’s brother Harald, one of August Krogh‘s valued employees, decides to quit his job out of loyalty to his brother. “What are you going to do?” asks August Krogh. “We want to make insulin,” replies Harald Pedersen. Shortly thereafter, Thorvald and Harald agree to start a company together and develop their own insulin preparation. This is the start of another important branch of the Novo Nordisk Foundation‘s family tree.